by Bibek Debroy
Vaishampayana continued, ‘Using the great Indra’s words, the rishi praised Govinda in this way. Worshipped by all the Yadus, Narada then returned to heaven. As they deserved and following the proper rites, Pundarikaksha Govinda Madhusudana then gave away his riches to the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. Having obtained these riches, the great-souled Yadavas resided in the city of Dvaraka. Following the rituals, they performed rites and sacrifices and gave away copious amounts of dakshina.’
Chapter 98
Janamejaya said, ‘O illustrious one! Among the thousands of his wives, eight are spoken about. Tell me about the offspring that he had through these eight.’
Vaishampayana replied, ‘It is generally said that all the eight queens had children. All these offspring were brave. I will tell you about his sons. Listen. Rukmini, Satyabhama, the queen who was Nagnajit’s daughter, Sudatta Shaibya, Lakshmana of the beautiful smiles, Mitravinda, Kalindi, Pouravi Jambavati and Subhima Madri.983 Hear about Rukmini’s children. Pradyumna was born first and he was the son who killed Shambara. The second was Charudeshna, who was a maharatha and a lion among the Vrishnis. There were also Charubhadra, Bhadracharu, Sudamshtra, Druma, Sushena, Charugupta, Charuvinda and Charuman. The youngest was Charubahu and there was a daughter named Charumati. Satyabhama gave birth to sons named Bhanu, Bhimaratha, Kshupa, Rohita, Diptiman, Tamrajaksha and Jalantaka. Through the one who has Garuda on his standard, four sisters were born to these. Jambavati gave birth to a son named Samba and he was an ornament in the field of battle. She also had sons named Mitravan and Mitravinda984 and a daughter named Mitravati. Know that Mitravaha and Sunitha were the sons of Nagnajit’s daughter. There were also sons named Bhadrakara and Bhadravinda and a daughter named Bhadravati. Samgramjit was born to Sudatta Shaibya and so were Satyajit, Senajit and the brave Sapatnajit. The sons of Subhima Madri were Vrikashva, Vrikanivritti and the prince Vrikadipti. Now hear about Lakshmana’s offspring. She gave birth to Gatravan, Gatragupta and the valiant Gatravinda, along with a younger sister named Gatravati. Kalindi had sons named Ashruta and Shrutasattama. Madhusudana gave Ashruta to Shrutasena.985 Hrishikesha gave his wife this son and happily said, “For an eternity, he will be the heir to both of you.”986 The son born through Brihati was known as Gada.987 The son through Shaibya was known as Angada and she also gave birth to Kumuda and Shveta and a daughter named Shveta.988 Chitrasena’s sons were Agavaha, Sumitra, Shuchi, Chitraratha and Chitrasena989 and her daughters were Chitra and Chitravati. Vanastamba gave birth to Stamba and Stambavana. Upasanga had sons named Vajra and Sukshipra. Koushiki’s son was Sutasoma.990 Youdhishthiri had sons named Yudhishthira,991 Kapali and Garuda and they were colourful in fighting.
‘O supreme among kings!992 Through the princess of Vidarbha, Pradyumna had a son named Aniruddha. In battles, this warrior had a deer on his standard. Through Revati, Baladeva had the sons Nishatha and Ulmuka. These brothers were supreme among men and were like the gods. Shouri993 had two other wives—Sutanu and Narachi. Poundra and Kapila were Vasudeva’s sons. Narachi gave birth to Kapila and Sutanu’s son was Poundra. Between the two, Poundra became a king and Kapila left for the forest. The immensely strong Vasudeva994 had a brave son through Turya. His name was Jara and he was best among archers, becoming the lord of the nishadas. Through Samba, Kashya obtained a spirited son named Suparshva. Aniruddha had a son named Sanu and Sanu’s son was Vajra. Vajra’s son was Prativaha and Sucharu was Prativaha’s son. The youngest of the descendants of Vrishni, Anamitra, had a son named Shini. Shini’s son was Satyavak and Satyavak’s son was the maharatha Satyaka. Satyaka had the brave son known as Yuyudhana.995 Yuyudhana’s son was Asanga and Asanga’s son was Bhumi. Bhumi’s son was Yugandhara. Thus ends the description of the lineage.’
Chapter 99
Janamejaya said, ‘You have earlier spoken about Pradyumna, the slayer of Shambara. How was he born and how did he kill Shambara? Please tell me.’
Vaishampayana replied, ‘Through Rukmini, Vasudeva had a son named Pradyumna. He was firm in his vows and prosperous and desirable. He was as handsome as the god of love.996 Before seven nights were over, in the night, Kalashambara stole Krishna’s infant child from the chamber where he had been delivered. Krishna knew about this. However, he followed the maya practised by the gods and did not restrain the danava, who was invincible in battle. The great asura was under the subjugation of death and following his own maya, seized him in both his hands and went away to his own city. He had a wife named Mayavati. Because of her own maya, she was pretty and possessed beauty and the qualities. However, she was without a child. Goaded by destiny, the danava gave Vasudeva’s son to his beloved queen, as if he was her own son. The danava lady was overcome with affection for him. The lotus-eyed one reared Krishna’s son and imparted all her knowledge of maya to him. When he became a youth, Pradyumna looked like the god of love. He became accomplished in the use of all weapons and also in what brought pleasure to women. The beautiful Mayavati desired the handsome one. She glanced at him and smiled at him. She sought to tempt him through signs. When the queen desired him, he addressed the one with the beautiful smiles. “Why are you abandoning your maternal instincts and acting in a perverse way? Alas! You possess the fickleness of women and are wicked in conduct. You have abandoned your feelings towards a son and have taken to a path of desire. O amiable one! Why have you deviated from good conduct? I am certainly not your son. O queen! Why are you behaving in this way? I wish to know the truth. It is indeed the case that the nature of women is as fickle as lightning. They desire men, just as clouds desire the summits of mountains. O amiable one! O beautiful one! Tell me whether I am your son or not. I wish to know the truth. Why are you attracted to me?” The timid one was addressed in this way and her senses were afflicted by passion. In private, she spoke these words to her beloved, Keshava’s son. “O amiable one! You are not my son, nor is Shambara your father. You are handsome and brave and have been born as a descendant of the Vrishni lineage. You are Vasudeva’s son. You are the one who enhances Rukmini’s delight. While you were an infant, as soon as you were born, you were abducted on the seventh day, while you lay down on your back as an infant, in the chamber where you were delivered. O brave one! My husband, who possesses strength and valour, abducted you. He trespassed into the great house of Vasudeva, your father, who is like the chastiser of Paka. Shambara abducted you. Your mother is miserable and has been grieving about you since your childhood. O brave one! She is greatly distressed, like Surabhi over her calf. Your father, the one with Garuda on his banner, is greater than Shakra. He does not know that you have been abducted as an infant and are here. O handsome one! You are a Vrishni youth. You are not Shambara’s son. O brave one! The danavas do not give birth to sons like this. Since I have not given birth to you, I desire you. O amiable one! On beholding your beauty, my heart suffers and is weak. O handsome one! O Varshneya! You are in my mind and you should satisfy the desire that is there in my heart. O amiable one! I have told you about my sentiments. You are not my son. Nor are you Shambara’s son.” He heard everything that Mayavati had spoken.
‘The son of the wielder of the chakra became angry and called out to Shambara. Kalashambara was brave and knew about all kinds of maya. The maya he knew was undecaying in any battle. However, though he used all this maya, he was slain on the eighth day of the encounter. The supreme among asuras was killed in the city of Rikshavanta. Taking the queen Mayavati, he997 then went to his father’s city. He was swift in his valour and resorted to maya, travelling through the sky. He reached the beautiful city, protected by his father’s energy. From the sky, the child descended into Keshava’s inner quarters. He was with Mayavati and looked as handsome as the god of love. When he descended like that, Keshava’s queens were astounded. Some were happy, but others were scared. He was like Kama and had arrived with his beloved. With happy faces, they drank him in with their eyes. They saw him walk one step at a time, face lowered in modesty. All of Krishna’s wives were delighted and overcome with affection
. Rukmini loved her son and had been afflicted by grief. Surrounded by a hundred co-wives, she saw him and spoke these words, her voice choking with tears. “This is indeed the son of a blessed woman. He is handsome to behold and has a long life. In the first bloom of youth, he is like the god of love. O son! Who is the lady who has been blessed by fortune, with a living son like you? You are as dark as a cloud. Why have you come here with your wife? It is evident that my son Pradyumna would also have been of your age, had he not forcefully been taken away by Death. Or is it the case that my speculation is not in vain and you are a son of the Vrishni lineage? I have recognized you through the signs. You are like Janardana without his chakra. Your face, your hair and the ends of your hair are like Narayana’s. Your head, chest and arms are like those of the wielder of the plough, my elder brother-in-law. Who are you, standing here? Your body is as radiant as all those of the Vrishni lineage. Behold. Your body is as supreme as that of the divine Narayana.” At this time, Krishna suddenly entered. He had heard Narada’s words about Shambara’s killing. He saw his eldest son, who had been successful and had all the signs of the god of love. Happily, Janardana also saw his daughter-in-law, Mayavati. He swiftly spoke to the queen Rukmini, who was like a goddess. “O queen! This lord who has come here, holding a bow, is your son. He is accomplished in fighting with maya and has killed Shambara. He has destroyed the maya of all those who obstruct the gods. This auspicious and virtuous lady is your son’s wife. She has been reared in Shambara’s house and is famous by the name of Mayavati. Taking her to be Shambara’s wife, you should not be distressed. In ancient times, Manmatha was destroyed and became Ananga.998 This maiden is Kama’s wife. She is the auspicious Rati, desired by Kama. Assuming a form through maya, this auspicious one confounded the daitya. In her youth, this beautiful lady was never under his subjugation. Using her own maya, she assumed a form and engaged with Shambara. This beautiful one is my son’s wife and your daughter-in-law. This pretty one will help the one who is loved by the worlds.999 Let my daughter-in-law enter the house and let her be worshipped. For a long time, your son had remained perished. Now that he has returned, love him.”’
Chapter 100
Vaishampayana said, ‘In the same month when Shambara, who wished to destroy himself, abducted Pradyumna, Jambavati gave birth to Samba. Since childhood, Rama taught him to show respect and all the Vrishnis respected him, just after Rama. All the enemies who lived in the border regions had been killed. As soon as he was born, Krishna entered that auspicious city, like an immortal entering Shakra’s garden. On witnessing the prosperity of the Yadavas, Vasava disliked the prosperity he himself had obtained. Because of their fear of Janardana, the kings1000 did not find any peace either. After some time, all the kings assembled for Duryodhana’s sacrifice in the city of Varanasahvya.1001 They heard about the prosperity of Madhava Janardana and his sons and about the city of Dvaravati, nestled along the shores of the ocean. All the kings on earth sent messengers and made peace with him. Wishing to see Hrishikesha’s prosperity, they went to Krishna’s house. There were all those who followed Dhritrarashtra, with Duryodhana at the forefront. There were Dhrishtadyumna and the other kings, with the Pandavas at the forefront. There were Pandyas, Cholas, lords from Kalinga, Bahlikas, Dravidas, Shakas and kings who were protected by eighteen akshouhinis. They arrived at the city of the Yadavas, protected by Govinda’s arms. Those lords entered their own camps, which surrounded Mount Raivataka on all sides for a stretch of one yojana. With the bulls among the Yadavas, the prosperous and lotus-eyed Hrishikesha emerged and approached those lords among men. Amidst all those lords among men, the slayer of Madhu, best among the Yadus, stood out, like the moon in the autumn sky. Krishna welcomed them according to status and according to age and seated himself on a golden throne. The kings also sat down in diverse places. Those lords among men seated themselves on colourful thrones and seats. That assemblage of the Yadavas and the lords among men dazzled, like an assembly of the gods and the asuras in Brahma’s abode. While Krishna looked on, in that meeting of the Yadus and the kings, wonderful stories were recounted.
‘At this time, with a roar like that of the clouds, the wind began to blow. Lightning flashed and it was as if a tumultuous and terrible day had arrived. Shattering the clouds that were like a bad day, Narada appeared. There was a veena in his hand and his hair was matted. As resplendent as a fire, he descended in the middle of the kings. Narada was like the flames of a fire. The handsome sage was Shakra’s friend. When Narada, bull among sages, descended on the ground, the giant clouds that were like the signs of a bad day disappeared. It is as if he submerged himself into the midst of an ocean that was made out of the kings. The undecaying sage spoke to the best of the Yadus,1002 who was seated. “O Purushottama! Among all the gods, you alone are extraordinary. O mighty-armed one! You are blessed. There is no one like you in the worlds.” Hearing this, the lord smiled and replied to the sage. “I am extraordinary and blessed because of the dakshina I receive.” Thus addressed in the middle of the kings, the best among sages said, “O Krishna! You have said enough. I am going wherever I came from.” The kings saw him start to leave. They had not understood the secret mantra spoken by the lord of the world or Narada’s words. They said, “O Madhava! Narada said that you were extraordinary and blessed and you told him that this was because of the dakshina. We have not understood the great and divine words of the mantra. O Krishna! If we deserve to hear this, we desire to know the truth about this.” At this, Krishna told all those bulls among kings, “This can be heard and the brahmana Narada will tell you about it. O Narada! Tell the kings about what they desire to hear. Tell them the truth about your question and the meaning in my words of reply.” He1003 sat down on a sparkling seat decortated with gold and spoke about his powers. “O best among men who have assembled here! Listen. This question is about the greatness of someone who has enabled me to cross over to the other side. On one occasion, I was on the banks of the Ganga, the guest of a person who bathes thrice a day. The night was over and the sun could be seen. I was roaming around, alone. I saw a tortoise whose body was made out of two shells. It possessed the complexion of a mountain peak. In every direction, the radius of its circumstance was one yojana. It possessed four legs. It was wet and smeared with mud. The tortoise was shaped like my veena and its shell was as tough as an elephant’s hide. I touched the one who roams around in the water with my hand and said, ‘O tortoise! It is my view that you possess a wonderful body and are blessed. Throughout, your body is covered with a shell that cannot be penetrated. Without any fear and without any kinds of thoughts, you roam around in the water.’ The tortoise that roams around in the water spoke to me, as if it was a man. ‘O sage! What is extraordinary about me? O lord! Why should I be blessed? The river Ganga is blessed. What can be more amazing than that? There are ten thousand creatures like me roaming around in the water.’ Curious, I presented myself before the river Ganga and said, ‘O best among rivers! You are blessed. You are always wonderful to behold. Inside you, there are many predatory aquatic creatures with gigantic bodies. You possess pools and head towards the ocean. You protect the abodes of ascetics.’”’
Vaishampayana continued, ‘The brahmana Narada was loved by the gods, the gandharvas and Shakra. On hearing this, Ganga assumed a bodily form and replied to him. “O best among brahmanas! I am not blessed. Nor is my form extraordinary in any way. You are established in the truth. You have vexed me with your words. In this world, the most extraordinary object is the ocean. O brahmana! It is blessed. Like me, hundreds of wide rivers go there.”